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Copycat Levain Bakery Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

Cross-section view showing the gooey melted chocolate center of a levain bakery chocolate chip cookie with walnuts.
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Make giant, thick chocolate chip cookies at home that match the famous Levain Bakery style. These cookies feature a crispy exterior, an ultra-gooey center, and are loaded with chocolate chunks and walnuts.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips or chunks
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional, but recommended for classic flavor)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. This recipe makes large cookies, so you will likely need two sheets.
  2. In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar using an electric mixer until the mixture is light and fluffy. This step is important for texture.
  3. Beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
  4. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing on low speed until just combined. Do not overmix the dough.
  6. Gently fold in the chocolate chips/chunks and the chopped walnuts, if using.
  7. Scoop the dough into very large balls, about 6 ounces each (roughly 1/3 cup of dough per cookie). You must make them large to achieve the signature thickness.
  8. Place the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving plenty of space between them. Do not flatten the dough balls.
  9. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes. The edges should look set and golden brown, but the centers should still look slightly underdone and soft.
  10. Remove the cookies from the oven. Let them cool on the baking sheet for at least 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. They will firm up as they cool.

Notes

  • For the best gooey center, use high-quality chocolate chunks instead of standard chips.
  • If you skip the walnuts, replace the volume with extra chocolate chunks to maintain the dense texture.
  • To achieve the bakery look, gently press a few extra chocolate chips onto the top of the dough balls before baking.
  • If you are looking for alternatives to traditional baking, consider how meal planning can support your dietary goals, though this recipe is not designed for weight loss programs.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://blissbatter.com/levain-bakery-chocolate-chip-cookies/